I have a poll on my profile page asking a question I really want to have answered. I'm trying to get as many answers as I can, and very few people visit my profile. I've gotten literally one answer in a week, and that's sad. Please answer, and be honest about it.

I only own my OC's!

OPERATION: BREAKDOWN

One Month Later

Pema picks up the picture beside my bed. "When was this picture taken?"

"I was six—we were six."

"Who's the little one?"

"Our little brother. He was…kidnapped by Fire Nation rebels when he was four. His name is Gyatso, after Aang's guardian." Bandit, sensing my pain, lands on my shoulder and curls his tail around my neck.

"You think there's any way we could find him?"

"We can try. But I've been trying since he was taken, and I haven't found him yet."

"Maybe I can help."

Bulkhead crashes into an old, abandoned building in Russia. He had been scouting for energon when he stumbles across a certain Decepticon rival. He looks over to see Breakdown standing before him with his hammer. "Bulkhead, imagine you and I bumping into each other in the middle of nowhere while tracking a stray energon signal."

"Yeah, Breakdown, it must be your lucky day!" Bulkhead charges at Breakdown.

They both grab each other's hand and try to knock each other down. "Where's your pet bender? How about when I'm finished with you, I pay her a visit?"

Bulkhead yells as he knocks Breakdown to the ground. "So, the wrecker's got a soft spot."

Bulkhead changes his arm into a wrecking ball and tries to hit Breakdown, but he rolls out of the way at the last second. He gets up and swings his hammer at Bulkhead, causing him to fall to the ground in pain.

Breakdown puts his hammer next to Bulkhead's head. "As much as I'll miss our little reunions… Hammer time." Breakdown raises his hammer, ready to give the final blow. But before he has the chance, a bolt of lightning is shot at his chest. It electrocutes him, and Breakdown falls to the floor, unconscious.

Bulkhead looks up to the sky to see a helicopter flying around them. Before he can identify who it is, he loses consciousness. The helicopter lands on the ground as Silas steps out. "Sir, we only have the resources to transport one."

"Take the victor."

Optimus sighs softly, causing Bandit to look up from my lap, where he had been sleeping. "Sheyenne, what is wrong?"

Pema and I climb in. "She's just thinking about our brother. I just found out about him this morning."

"He'd be thirteen today." I reach up and wipe a tear off my cheek. "I'm fine, Optimus. Just go on to base."

Bulkhead groans as he hears a familiar voice in his comm. link. "Marco! Marco! MARCO!"

"Miko." Bulkhead groans.

Miko groans. "You're supposed to say polo."

Bulkhead remembers what happened a couple of hours ago and shoots up, looking around. He sees that no one is there. He remembers hearing a helicopter before he passed out, but where is Breakdown? "Miko, let Ratchet know I need a ground bridge."

Ratchet fixes Bulkhead's arm while Optimus lectures him. "Engaging the enemy on your own was foolish, Bulkhead."

"Breakdown jumped me! I knew I could take him!"

"Dude, you got knocked out by him." Bulkhead glares at her. "I'm just stating the truth." She shrugs.

"But we should see the other guy! Right, Bulk?"

"Uh…yeah. About that…"

"You didn't torch him?"

"Not exactly. I figured you all did. When I woke up, Breakdown was just gone. I remember hearing a copter. Maybe it was Agent Fowler."

"Not me." Fowler walks in. "Show me where the 'Con-napping occurred."

Breakdown groans as he slowly opens his optics to see drills and other machines in a tunnel. "What?" He tries to move his arms, but metal braces on his hands and feet prevent him from moving at all. He continues as Silas and two soldiers walk into the room where the computers are.

Over to the side, a young boy in a yellow T-shirt and brown jeans and shoes is tied up and sitting against the wall. The young boy has dirty blonde hair and wide blue-gray eyes.

"Filthy fleshlings! Who do you think you are?"

"We are MECH. And I am Silas."

"Release me now and I will let you live!"

"I'm afraid you are far too valuable to us."

Breakdown laughs. "Megatron will never pay a ransom."

"Oh, you misunderstand. We don't want a ransom. We only want you. All of you."

"This is where we picked up Bulkhead."

"The Kamchatka Peninsula in Eastern Russia, much of it was abandoned 20 years ago when its volcano first erupted. My Intel reported MECH activity there earlier today."

"MECH?"

"You mean those techy guys?"

"The very ones who know of our existence on your planet."

"They must have tracked one of us there."

"But what would they want with Breakdown?"

"What's it matter? They can have him."

"I'm with Arcee on that one."

"Yeah. Dragged off by humans. Guess I softened him up for 'em."

"Yeah."

Optimus straightens up and turns to the medic. "Ratchet, reactivate the previous ground bridge coordinates. We will rescue Breakdown."

"What?"

Pema and I share a look before glaring up at our guardian. "Have you lost it?"

"Optimus, you can't be serious."

"You're kidding."

"MECH can melt him down for all I care. Let the 'Cons rescue their own."

"It is unlikely that Megatron would bother with an errand of mercy."

Arcee crosses her arms. "Okay…but this is Breakdown."

"The one who helped Knockout capture Vince. And the one who tried to kill us with missiles."

"Sometimes, we must rise above ourselves for the greater good."

"You're kidding, right?"

"Sierra, Aang helped rescue Zuko from Azula BEFORE Zuko joined with him. I'm with Optimus."

"Aw, what's that supposed to mean? Breakdown's gonna be grateful and go all soft and join the cause?" Bulkhead scoffs.

"While it is unlikely that any Decepticon will choose the path of good, even they possess the potential for change."

"I knew where this was headed!"

"By the greater good, I meant humankind. MECH presents a clear and present danger."

"Prime's right, two-ton. We know MECH's obsessed with obtaining groundbreaking technology." Fowler pipes in.

"And who know what they would do with it? They could destroy cities for all we know."

"Which means we cannot allow Cybertronian biology to fall into their hands."

"And as the avatar, I must defeat them, to restore balance. Guys?"

"Well you guys can go on without me."

"Full disclosure: we intend to tear you apart. Break you down, if you will. And we will utilize whatever we discover to develop a new generation of weaponry." Silas snaps his fingers and a scientist climbs onto Breakdown's chest. He brings the drill closer to Breakdown. "I'm afraid that you won't survive the process. So thank you in advance for your sacrifice." Silas walks down the stairs. "MECH is very much in your debt." "You are making a very big mistake, little man. When I'm finished with you, they'll have to scrape you off the floor!"

"Since you evidently aren't squeamish, I'll allow you to watch. Are those pain receptors disabled?" The scientist nods his head. "Good. Then he won't make as much noise. Open him up." Breakdown widens his optics as the drill comes towards his face, and before he knows it his optic is gone.

"Come on, Bulk! You gotta go with!"

"Don't wanna!"

"Bulkhead."

"Optimus, I'm sorry. I just can't do it."

"I support your decision."

"What?" Bulkhead and Miko ask in shock.

"Given your history with Breakdown, your judgment may be clouded. And thus, jeopardize the mission. Besides, the Decepticon may be in more need of a medic then another warrior."

Autobots, Pema, Raf, Jack, and I approach the portal, Ratchet with us. "Locked and loaded, Optimus."

"Autobots, roll out." The Autobots transform into their vehicle modes and drive through the ground bridge while Pema, Raf, Jack, and I follow.

"Fine. Happy hunting!" Miko groans and Bulkhead looks at her and Sierra with slight sadness. "Uh…what do you say? Creature double feature?"

"Yeah."

"Whoa-ho! I'm in!"

"Sure."

The Autobots and my team arrived in Russia. The Autobots transform. We all look around to see no one in sight. "No signs of life. Human or Cybertronian."

"Hey guys."

Bumblebee looks over next to Raf and sees tracks on the ground. "Tracks."

"Forget the tracks, you two. I'm picking up a faint Energon signal three clicks north-by-northwest."

"Breakdown."

"But we shouldn't be getting a reading unless…"

"His energon's been spilled."

Fowler is sprawled all over the couch, snoring while the movie keeps playing, and Sierra and Miko are sitting on the edge of a catwalk with their legs hanging over the edge. Miko groans. "He's snoring like a drunken earth bender."

"Dinolizard vs. 5-Headed Ape. You're missing the smack down."

"No, you're missing the smack down."

"Huh?" Bulkhead asks in confusion.

"Breakdown's YOUR arch enemy. Not Optimus', and definitely not MECH's."

Bulkhead sighs. "Miko, you don't understand. Breakdown and me; we go way back. You have no idea the things he's done. I am not rescuing him, Okay? Not now! Not ever!"

"Even if he does go and rescue him, do you really think he'll soften up and join Optimus?"

"Duh! You don't need to bromance him, Bulk! You just need to beat him!"

"Uh what?"

"No rescue, no rematch. And I'll be right there with you."

Bulkhead widens his eyes in realization and looks at the ground bridge.

A couple of minutes later, they arrive in Russia and look around. It's hard to see in the dark, so Miko choses to rely on her seismic sense. She feels the ground and sees tracks and cars going in a certain direction. "This way."

Bulkhead looks at the tracks and transforms into his vehicle mode. Miko creates an earth wave and follows Bulkhead.

We continue to follow the energon trail. The tracker begins to beep rapidly. "This way." We arrive outside a mansion to see something round by a fountain. Ratchet bends down to get a closer look. "It's Breakdown's eye."

Bulkhead and Miko hide behind a rock as they see MECH cars drive into a tunnel. "MECH."

"So how do we break in without anyone noticing? We can't exactly hide a giant robot."

Bulkhead thinks about it for a moment. "Looks like we'll just have to break in."

"But how? We just have to knock on their front door?"

"We'll just play a little game called, "Marco, Polo"."

"What are you doing?"

Ratchet puts the ends of the eye into the energon tracker. "The optic receptors might have retained the final images seen." The image shows Breakdown looking at a drill as it comes towards his eye.

"What do you know? Weird science wins again."

The drill then takes out his eye and the next thing they know, Silas is on the screen. Pema stares in shock—and I can't blame her, she's never seen Silas before. "Who's he?"

"Well, well, Optimus Prime. A pleasure to set eyes on you again. And I see you brought along your human friends. If they're even human."

"He's converted the optics into a two-way feed."

"And you must be Silas."

"In the flesh. But being that our captive is not one of yours, I have to admit. I was expecting Megatron."

"In this circumstance, both Autobots and Decepticons share a common foe."

"MECH is anything but common. Our guest is yielding quite a bit of information about your biomechanics as you can see. Although, Breakdown himself can't see quite well anymore."

"We don't fear you."

"Oh, but you should. In fact, I would strongly urge that you not stand your ground."

"What's he talking about?"

"Uh, guys?"

They all look up at the water fountain to see a bomb placed near it counting down from ten. "It's a trap!"

"Would this be a 'roll-out' kind of trap?"

"Evacuate now!" Optimus instructs. The Autobots run. Pema and I grab Jack and Raf and use our airbending to blow them as far away from the bomb as we can.

When the bomb hits zero, it explodes. The force sends the Autobots flying back, but they transform and land on their feet. My team and I, however, crash into a wall. "Are you okay?" Bumblebee walks towards us.

"We're fine."

"So, any idea where they're keeping the rest of Breakdown?"

"Enjoying the view? Ironically, your rescuers may be in more pieces than you are."

"Decepticons don't break that easy!"

"Who said they were Decepticons?"

"That doesn't make sense. Autobots wouldn't come to rescue me."

Suddenly, there is a banging on the door and everyone stops what they are doing. One of the scientists turns to the security camera to see someone, or something, banging on the garage door. Agents gathered around and aim their guns at whatever is going to come at them, but instead are met by a giant boulder flying into the tunnel.

Miko then flips onto the metal door and uses it for armor. She throws metal rails while Bulkhead smashes his way through using his wrecking balls. "MARCO!" Miko stomps on the ground, sending agents flying.

"You're supposed to say polo!"

"More grist for the mill." Silas walks out of the room.

Once finished with the agents, Miko and Bulkhead walk further into the tunnel. They soon find Breakdown still strapped on the operating table. Breakdown looks up to see Bulkhead walking towards him. Bulkhead changes his wrecking balls back into hands. "It must be your lucky day."

Breakdown shuts his eyes, awaiting his death, but instead Bulkhead rips the braces, setting Breakdown free. "What are you doing?"

"Getting you out of here." Bulkhead holds out his servo.

"I'm shocked too."

Breakdown is a little hesitant, but grabs onto Bulkhead's servo and he pulls him up. "Can you walk?"

"I think so." Breakdown closes up his chest plates. Red sirens blink as the alarms go off.

"Can you run?"

"Never run when you can fight." Breakdown smirks as he unfolds his hammer.

Bulkhead moves the hammer from his face. "Just keep that thing pointed away from me?"

"Wait, Bulk. There's a kid over there."

Bulkhead reaches over, grabs him, and puts him inside his chest plates. The three then take off running. When they get to the exit, MECH soldiers aim their weapons at them. They fire, but the bullets simply bounce off of Bulkhead and Breakdown, and Miko's metal armor. Miko smirks as she slams her fists into the ground, causing an earth wave to knock the cars over. "Creature double feature coming at ya!" Bulkhead swings his wrecking ball.

Then helicopters fly near and fire missiles at them. Breakdown activates his own missiles and fires at the cars. One of them swerves out of control and crashes into a power line. Miko creates earth columns and sends two more cars flying in the air and crashing into a helicopter. "Do you have some sort of escape plan?"

"Yep. But you're not gonna like it." Bulkhead activates his comm link. "Bulkhead to Optimus. Rendezvous to my coordinates. I'm in need of backup."

Breakdown grabs one of the cars and throws it into another helicopter. They continue to battle it out as Silas comes flying in a helicopter. He then aims one of his weapons and fires it at Breakdown. Breakdown jumps out of the way and continues fighting. Silas then aims another shot at Bulkhead and fires. Breakdown then tackles Bulkhead out of the way.

As Silas prepares to fire another, the soldier next to him stops him. "Sir, incoming bogies!"

"All units, disengage and initiate Omega protocols." The MECH soldiers retreats as Breakdown and Bulkhead continue fighting.

Breakdown hears an engine sound and stops. "Your backup?"

"But I can't sense them."

Bulkhead and Breakdown look up to see five Decepticon drones and Starscream transform into their robot mode and land on the ground. Miko growls and gets into her fighting stance. "Commander Starscream."

"Consorting with the enemy, Breakdown?"

"But Bulkhead got me out of there!"

"Many spark-felt thanks, Autobot. Now destroy him."

"But—"

"Do you plan on joining their ranks anytime soon? No? Then be done with it already!"

Breakdown looks at Bulkhead and Miko, then smirks. "Tough break Bulkhead." Breakdown unfolds his hammer. "Maybe in the next life." Breakdown lifts his hammer, only to be met with an earth column in the face.

"What?" Starscream looks down. "You're here too?!"

Miko smirks as she shoots a boulder at Starscream's face, knocking him off of his feet.

Bulkhead spins around and hits Breakdown's back, causing him to crash into the ground. "Hammer time!" Bulkhead then grabs Breakdown's legs, spins him around, and throws him into the Decepticons drones. "Come on. We'll scrap all of you."

The 'Cons are about to fire, but other shots come from behind as they turn to see the Autobots and my team firing at them.

"Retreat!" The drones and Starscream transform into jets and fly off. Breakdown transforms into his vehicle mode and drives off while my team shoots fire and earth at him.

We all stop and look at Bulkhead and Miko, though the bots don't recognize her. "Engaging the enemy on your own was even more foolish this time, Bulkhead. But I am honored that you saw fit to rescue your rival. You have truly risen above yourself."

"Did you see? I beat Breakdown and bashed him with his own hammer! I won the rematch!"

"I'm sure Miko would be proud."

Miko takes off the metal surrounding her face and smirks. "I am." She smirks. "'Sup."

"And how come you didn't just come along in the first place?"

"I'm glad I didn't come with you guys. This was way more fun."

We head back to the base. I sit on the bottom step and lay my chin in my hand. Bandit flies down from the platform and perches on my shoulder. "Oh, I almost forgot. Show 'em what else we saved from MECH, Bulk."

Bulkhead opens his chest plates and sets a hand in front of the opening. The Autobots, my team, and I gather around. A young boy crawls out and looks around nervously, his dirty blonde hair sticking to his forehead. Tears come to my eyes as a smile creeps across my face.

I step forward as Bulkhead sets him down. "Gyatso? Is it really you?"

"Shey?" The second Bulkhead sets him down, the boy runs to me. He wraps his arms around me happily as Pema steps forward and joins in the hug.

After a moment, the three of us step back. I look up at Bulkhead. "Flameo, Bulkhead. Thank you."

"So, what are they?"

"They…are the Autobots. They're here to protect our planet from the Decepticons and help me with my duties. I'll let them introduce themselves. This is my twin sister, Pema."

"I'm Miko. The earth and metal bender from the field."

"I'm Jack, and this is my girlfriend, Sierra. I'm a waterbender, and she's a nonbender."

"I'm Raf." Raf steps over to him. "I'm a firebender, and the crown prince if we manage to get the Fire Nation back together."

Gyatso nods and looks up at the Autobots. "I am Optimus Prime, your sisters' guardian, and the leader of the Autobots."

"I'm Arcee." Arcee kneels down to his level. "I'm Jack and Sierra's guardian."

"Bulkhead. Miko's guardian."

Miko smirks. "And your rescuer."

"Thank you. You don't know how happy I am to be away from MECH."

"Hi, I'm Bumblebee." Gyatso gives me a confused look.

"He's Bumblebee." I shrug. "Lost his voice box to a con."

"My designation is Ratchet." Ratchet runs a scanner over Gyatso before sighing in relief. His sigh causes me to look up. "He is completely unharmed."

"Thank you, Ratchet." I turn to my team. "Good work out there, team avatar." My team starts to disperse. "Oh, and Miko?" I cause her to turn back to me. "Thank you."

Optimus pulls up to the house. "It's too bad Dad isn't home."

"Where is he?"

I smile weakly. "You may not remember, but Dad's a trucker. He's off on another run."

"But he'll call, right?"

"Dad always calls. He spends AGES talking to Mom and Shey."

"I am sure it is because of the sparklings she is carrying, Pema."

"What's a sparkling?"

"It's their term for a baby. I was going to tell you before, but everything piled on at once. I'm pregnant, with twins."